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5 sheetssheet 1.

, I-I. A.. J. RIEGKERT.

(No Model.)

SELF BINDER.

atented June 1o, 1890.

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(No Model.) Y 5 Sheetsf-Sheet 3. H. A. J. RIEGKERT.

SELF BINDER. No. 429,958. Patented June 10, 1890.

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(No Model.) 5Sheets--S-heet 4.

- H. A. J. 'RIECKBRT y SELF BINDER. No. 429,958. Patented June 10, 1890.

WZK eaves*- H. A. J.' RIEOKERT.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5;

SELF BINDER.

(No Model.)

Patented June 10, 1890.

Zi/z CSJ ed plan view of part of the same on the line c t UNITED vSTATES PATENT GEEICE.

HERMAN A. J. RIECKERT, OF NFV YORK, N. Y.

SELF-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 429,958, dated June 10,1890.

Application filed August 31, 1889.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be itknown that I, HERMAN A. J. RIECKERT', of the city, county, andState of New York, have invented` a new and Improved Self- Binder, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relatesv to self-binders using a prepared straw band; andthe object of the invention is to provide a new and improved self-binderwhich is simple and durable in construction and very effective inoperation, drawing the straw band tight around the sheaf and thenrapidly and securely tying the band.

The invention consists in certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be described hereinafter, and then pointed out in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improve ment as applied to aharvester, parts being in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side eleva-'tion of the improvement with the casing in section. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the same. Fig. 4t is a sectional end elevation of the sameon the'line 0c of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the same with thecasing in section. Fig. G is a sectional plan View of the same on theline y g/ of Fig. 2, with parts broken out. Fig. 7 is an enlargedsectional end elevation of part of the improvement on the line ,cz ofFig. 2. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same with parts in section.Fig. 9 is an enlarged front view of the mechanism for raising andlowering the prongs. Fig. l0 is a sectional end elevation of the saineonthe line w w of Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a like view of lthe same on theline u it of Fig. 9. Fig. l2 is a sectional of Fig. 9, and Fig. 13 is aplan view of the upper end of one of the sheaf-holders.

The improved machine is mounted on a frame A, which forms part of theharvester on which the binder is applied. In suitable bearings in themain frame A is lmounted to turn a shaft B, carrying a pulley orsprocket- Wheel B', connected by a band or sprocketchain with the driving-pulley of the harvester, the proportion of the pulleys or sprocket-Serial No. 322,528. (No model.)

wheels being so arranged thatone turn of the driving-pulley of theharvester imparts two full revolutions to the main shaft B.

On one end of the shaft Bv is secured a bevel gear-wheel B2, whichmeshes into a bevel gearwheel B5, secured on the lower end of an uprightshaft C, mounted to turn in a sleeve A', secured on the main frame A. Onthe shaft B, next to the gear-wheel B5, is secured anotherrbevelgear-wheel B2 which meshes into a horizontally-arranged bevel gear-wheelB5, turning on a stud B6, secured on the main frame A. On the upper faceof the bevel gear-wheel B5 is arranged a gear-wheel B5, provided withtwo sections of gear-teeth adapted to mesh alternately into a gear-wheelD', mounted to turn loosely on-the sleeve A', previously mentioned. Thegear-wheel B5, by means of its two sections of gear-teeth, imparts anintermittent motion to the gearwheel D.

On the face of the gear-wheel D are secured arms D, extending inopposite directions radially from the shaft C. On the outer ends 0f thearms D are held two grain-holders D2 and D5, alike in construction andeach provided with two segmental arms D4 and D5, pivoted at DG to theouter end of the respective arm D. Vhen the arms D4 and D5 are closed,they form a circle, as shown to the left in Fig. l, and when open, asshown to the right in Figui,l they are ready to admit the grain as cutby the harvester. The arms D'l and D5 of each holder D2 or D5 arealternately closed and opened by fixed circular cams DT and DS, of whichthe cam DT supports the outer edges of the arms D5, while the other caniD8 supports the outer edges of the arms D4. The lowest points of thecams DT and D8 are to the right of the shaft C, so that the arms D4 andD5 b their own wei-ht restinr ICO such, for instance, as shown inapplication, Serial No. 317,082, for Letters Patent for astraw-band-twisting machine, fllcd by me under date of July 1U, 1889,and allowed 0ctober 2, 1889. rlhe straw band is placed into the arms D4and D" by hand or some equivalent well-known device. rlhe twisted andsomewhat stiif straw band rests against the inner edges of the arms D'land D, their outer ends projecting through the selnieircular forks D2,formed on the upper end of each of the arms D"1 and Di". (See Fig. 13.)

The cam DS is supported on suitable brackets of the main frame A, whilethe cam 'DT is secured to the upper end ofthe sleeve A', which latteralso supports an upwardly-cxtending bracket A2, in the upper end ofwhich is journaled the upper end of the shaft C. The latter carries atits outer end a bevel gear-wheel C', meshing into a bevel gearwheel C2,secured on a short shaft C3, mounted to turn in suitable bearings formedin upwardly-extending arms A, secured to the bracket A2. On the shaft C3is also secured a pulley Ci, over which passes a belt (1, also passingover a large pulley C, fastened on a shaft CT, mounted to turn insuitable bearings in the upper ends of the said arms A3. Then the mainshaft B is rotated, it transmits its motion to the shaft C by the bevelgear-wheels B2 and B, and the shaft C, by the bevel gear-wheels C andC2, turns the shaft C3 and the pulley C, which latter by the belt C5rota-tes the pulley C, so as to turn the shaft C7 in the direction ofthe arrow a' and at the same speed as the driving-pulley on theharvester.

The shaft C7 operates the twistingr mechanism E, operating over theclosed grainholder D2 or D3, as shown to the left in Fig. 1. Thistwisting mechanism E is provided with two balls E' and E2,secnred on theouter ends of the arms E and El, respectively, fastened on a ball E5,secured on the lower end of a vertical shaft E, passing through a sleeveF' of knotting mechanism F, and having its bearings in a bracket A5,secured on a casing A4, supported by the shaft C. On the upper end ofthe shaft E is secured a bevel-pinion G, which meshes into a bevelgear-wheel G', fastened on the end of a shaft G2, carrying a pinion G3,adapted to be engaged alternately by the segmental gears G4 and G,respectively, secured on the rim of a master-wheel Il, fastened on theshaft CT. lVhen the latter is rotated, as above described, in thedirection of the arrow 0.', said segmental gearwheels G'1 and G5alternately impart a rotary motion bythe pinion G3 to the shaft G2,whichlatter, by lthe gear-wheels G' and G, rotates the shaft E, carrying onits lower end the arms E2 and E", supporting the balls E' and E2,respectively. The balls E and E2, when the shaft E is turned, travel onthe semicircular forks D, formed on the upper ends of the arms Dl andl)5 of the holders D2 and D, respectively. 'lhe ends of the band held inthe closed holder D2 or D3 project through the forks l)Q and are takenhold of by the arms E and E" and twisted when the shaft E is turned. Anydesired number ef revolutions may be given to the shaft Ef. Three orfour, however, will be sufficient to make three or four twists in theends of the band. As the motion given to the shaft FG is intermittent,by means of the segmental gearwheels Gl and G5, the said shaft is lockedin place after each movement by a pawl G, pivoted on the upper end ofthe bracket A5 and engaging with one end a recess formed in the back ofthe bevel gear-wheel G'. The other end of the said pawl is operated onby the ends of the respective segmental gears G4 or G5 before the latteris in mesh with the pinion Gi". As soon as the segmental gear-wheelmoves ont of contact with the pinion G" said pawl G drops its inner endin the recess of the gear-wheel G2 and locks the latter in place, andconsequently the shaft EG.

'.lhe knotting mechanism F is located near the twisting mechanism F. andis provided with the sleeveF' ,previously mentioned,which latter isprovided atits lower end with a notch F2, adapted to engage, when in itslowermost position, a pin E7, secured on the lower end of the shaft E,so as to additionally lock the latter in place when the sleeve F is inits lowermost position.

Near the lower end of t-he sleeve F' are secured on Opposite sides thetrunnions I and I", on which are fulcrumed tongs J and J', respectively,alike in construction, and cach provided with two prongs J2 and J3, ofwhich the former is provided on its lower ends with a semicircularoffset J4, and the other prong J2 is provided with a similar but smallersemicircular offset J5, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

On the upper end of each of the prongs J2 and Js are formed pinsJiandJ,respectively, engaging guideways K2 and K3, respectively, formed in eachof the brackets K and K', respectively, secured on the under side of thecasing A4. It is understood that the bracket K is provided with twogrooves K2 and K3 for the pins Ji" and JT of the tongs J, while thebracket K has two grooves for a similar purpose for the tongs J'. Thetrunnions I and l' project slightly beyond the tongs J and J',respectively, and pass into vertical gnideways K4, arranged between theguideways K2 and KF" on the brackets K and K', respectively.

In the lower end of the semieircular olfset JA1 of each prong J2 isformed a slot J, in which is adapted to pass a tail-piece L or L',respectively, extending through the tongs J and J', respectively,'andsecured to the trunuions I and l'.

The sleeve F' is adapted to slide vertically up and down on the shaftEibya mechanism hereinafter more fully described. \Vl1cn the sleeve F'is in its uppermostA position, as shown in Figs. 2 and l, the arms E andE of the twisting mechanism are below the lower ends of the tongs J andJ". The pins J" and TOO IIO

2995s i e J7 of the prongs J3 and J3 of the tongs J andl J are thenclose together in the upper parts of the guideways K3 and K3, so thatthe lower seinicircular offsets J4 and J5 are opened. Vhen the sleeve Fis now moved downward, the open semieircular offsets J4 and J5 of thetongs J and J pass over the arms E3 and E4, and when the sleeve Farrives in its lowermost position the offsets J4 and J5 close intotheposition shown in Fig. 7, by the pins J and J 7 traveling in theouter tip-end parts of the guideways K3 and K3. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) Thetrunnions I and I, by traveling in the guideways K4 in the brackets Kand K', firmly guide the sleeve F in its up and down motion and preventsaid sleeve from turning. The ends of the offsets J 5 of the prongs J 3are adapted to press on one side of the straw band, while the end oflthe larger semicircular offset J pushes the end of the straw band underthe part of the band surrounding the sheaf'of grain, as is hereinaftermore fully described. The ends of the bands have previously been presseddown by the tail-pieces L and L.

The mechanism for moving the sleeve F and its connections up and downconsists, principally, of a dovetailed incline N, engaging thecorrespondingly-shaped offset F3 on the upper end of the sleeve F. Theincline N is provided at its horizontal bottom with a dovetail itting ina dovetailed groove N', formed in the bottom of the casing A4, so thatthe incline N is guided in itsforward and backward movement. The lowerpart of the incline Nis connected by rods N3 with ahorizontally-extending dovetailed rod N3, mounted to slide in suitableguideways N4, arranged parallel to the guideways N in the bottom of thecasing A4. On `one end of the rod N3 is secured a rectangular frame N5,(see Fig. 9,) in the ends of which are fitted thecurved arms O and O',respectively, pivotally connected at diagonal ends by a rod O3, as isplainly shown'in Fig. 9.

On the arms O and O are pivoted the levers O3 and O4, pivotallyconnected by bolts O5 with the semiciroular ends of an elongated frameP, mounted to slide at the said ends in the arms O and O. In the top armof the elongated frame P is arranged a rack P, opposite which is locateda parallel rack P3, ar-

ranged inthe lower arm of the said frame.'

The racks Pl and P3 are adapted to be engaged alternately by agear-wheel P3, secured von a shaft P4, mounted to turn in suitable lbearings erected in the bottom of the casing' A4, and on the said shaftP4 is secured a pinion P5, adapted to be engaged alternately by thesegmental gear-wheels PG and P3, formed diametrically opposite eachother on the` rim of the wheel H. (See Fig. 2.) The gear-wheel P3 isadapted to engage alternately the studs O3 and 07 on the levers O3 andO4, so as to shift the respective lever to throw the frame P up anddown, permitting the gear-wheel P3 to alternately engage the racks P andP3, so

that when the segmental gear-wheel P6 or P7 meshes in the pinion P5 andturns the shaft P4 and the gear-wheel P3, then the latter, by engagingthe rack P', moves the frame N5, the rod N3, and consequently theincline N, forward, so that the sleeve F is lowered, and when the saidgear-wheel P3 engages the pin O7 on the lever O4, then the said lever isthrown upward. Thereby the frame P is raised'parallel with the rod N3until the said gear-wheel P3 engages the rack P3, so that by the nextsegmental gear-wheel P6 or P`7 engaging the pinion P5 said gear-wheel P3meshes in the rack P3 and moves the frame N5, the rod N3, and theincline N rearward, so that the sleeve F is again raised to the positionshown in Fig. 2. It is understood that the segmental gear-wheel P6 movesthe incline N in one direction, while the oppositely-arranged segmentalgear-wheel P7 moves t-he incline N back to the former position. q

A pawl N6, pivoted inthe bottom of the casing A4, is adapted to engageone of the cross-arms N3, so as to lock the latter, and consequently theincline N, the rod N3, and the frame N5, in place when the sleeve F isin a raised position. The pawl N5 is disengaged from the arm N3 by thecams N7 and N3, arranged directly opposite each other on the rim of thewheel H. (See Fig. 2.) A spring N9 presses against theupwardly-projecting end of the pawl N3, so as to hold the pawl incontact with the arm N3 until operated on by the respective cam N7 orN3.

The casing A4, with its contents, is swung into an angular position, asshown in-dotted lines in Fig. 2, as soon as theknot is tied, so as tomove the twisting device E, as well as theknotting device F, away fromthe respective holder D3 or D3. In order to accomplish this an arm Q issecured on the frame A3, and is provided at its upper end with asegmental rack Q, in which mesh the two gearwheels Q3 and Q3, mounted toturn on shafts Q4 and Q5, respectively, held in suitable bearingsarranged in the casing A4. The gearwheel Q3 is considerably larger thanthe ICO IIO

gear-wheel Q3, and in the latter meshes a A smaller gearfwheel Q3, ofsuch size as to make the two gear-wheels Q3 and Q45 equal in diameter tothe diameter of the geaihwheel Q3. The teeth of the gear-wheel Q3 thuscoincide with the teeth of the gear-wheel Q3, so that both gear-wheelsQ6 and Q3 can be in mesh with a gear-wheel R, secured on a shaft R',mounted to turn and to slide transversely in a bearing R3securedin thecasing A4. On the shaft R is also secured a pinion R3, adapt-ed to beengaged alternately by segmental gear-wheels R4, R5, R3, and R7,arranged on the periphery of the wheel H. The gear-wheel Roan be throwneither in contact with the gear-wheel Q3 or the gear-wheel Q3, or it maybe in mesh with both, as shown in Fig. 5. In the latter case a movementof the gear-Wheels Q3, Q3, and Q3 is impossible, as

the gear-wheels Q2 and Q2 are both in mesh with the rack Q and turn inopposite directions. When the gear-wheel R is in mesh with thegear-wheel Q2, and is turned so aste rotate said gear-wheel Q2, then thelatter travels downward on the rack Q', whereby the casing Al swingsinto an inclined pesition, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) the shaftCT being the center. When, however, the gear-wheel R is in mesh with thegearwheel Q6 and is rotated, then the said gearwheel Q6 turns, and alsoturns the gear-wheel Q2, which now travels up the teeth on the rack Quntil the casing A" is moved back to its former horizontal position. Atthis point the gear-wheel R is shifted so as to be in mesh with bothgear-wheels Q2 and Q, whereby the casing A4 is locked in place, aspreviously described. The device for moving the gearwheel R alternatelyin contact withthe gearwheels Q2 and Q6 consists of a series of inclinedblocks arranged on the periphery of the gear-wheel H. Two sets 'of suchblocks are placed diametrically opposite each other on the periphery ofthe wheel ll. Each set of blocks contains the four blocks S, S, S2, andS2, each provided with an incline adapted to engage, when the wheel Ilrotates, one of the faces of the gear-wheel R, so as to shift the lattertransversely for the purpose above described. The block S is adapted toengage the front face of the wheel R, (see Fig. 5,) so as to move thewheel R in mesh with the gear-wheel Q2. At this time the segmentalgear-wheel R meshes into the pinion R2, rotates the latter, andconsequently the wheels R and Q2, whereby the latter travels downward onthe rackQ` and the casingA4is shifted into an inclined position. As soonas the said segmental gear-wheel R6 has moved out of mesh with thepinion R2 then the block S engages the outer face of the gear-wheel Rand moves the latter in mesh with the two'gear-wheels Q2 and Q, wherebythe several wheels Q2, Q2, and QG, as well as the casing A4, are lockedin place. The next following block S2 moves the gear-whcel'R out of meshwith the gearwheel Q2 and farther into mesh with the gearwheel Q As soonas this takes place the segmental gear-wheel R7 engages it and turns thepinion R2, whereby the wheels R, Q, and Q3 are turned and the wheel Q3travels upthe rack Q to move the casing A4 back into its horizontalposition, as above described. As soon as this is accomplished thesegmental gear-wheel R7 leaves the pinion R2, and the next followingblock S2 moves the gearwheel R into mesh with both gear-wheels Q6 andQ2, so as to lock the several parts in place, as above described. Thisentire movement, as above mentioned, is repeated for evely set of blocksS, S', S2, and S3.

The operation is as follows: When the harvester is set in motion, theshaft B is rotated and the several parts of the self-binder areactuated. The shaft C7 rotates at the same speed as the driving-shaft ofthe havester,

while the shaft C makes two revolutions for every revolution of theshaft C7. The prepared straw band is placed in the open holder D2 or D,after which the grain is passed into the said holder about midway, sothat the band encircles the grain in the usual mauncr, the ends of thestraw band projecting upward above the forks D", on account of beingtwisted and consequently sutiiciently stift' for the purpose. Themovement of the main shaft B intermittently turns the arms D, so thatthe holder D2 or D3 is moved to the left side of the machine, and itsarms D and D5 are closed by traveling over the cams D7 and D2, aspreviously described, so as to bring the said holder into the positionshown to the left in Fig. l-that is, directly under the twistingmechanism E and the knotting mechanism E. The balls E and E2 new rest onthe semicircular forks D9 of the arms D'L and D5, respectively, and asthe shaft E now receives a rotary motion by the action of the segmentalgear-wheel G4 or G5 the arms E and E4, carrying the said balls, takehold of the upwardly-projecting ends of the straw-band and give the sameseveral twists. As soon as this is accomplished the rotary motion of theshaft E6 ceases and the incline N is set in motion, as previouslydescribed, so as to move t-he sleeve F downward until the notch F2 ofthe said sleeve engages the pin El, and the shaft and sleeve are lockedtogether. The downward motion of the sleeve E operates the tongs J and Jas previously described-that is, one of the tongs engages one end of thestraw band while the other tongs operates on the other end of: thestrawband. The tail-pieces L and L press the ends of the band down sothat the ends can be engaged by the prongs J4. Each prong rests againstone side of the end of the straw band, while the other J 4 in closingpresses the end of the straw band underneath the circular part of theband-that is, it presses the end of the straw band over the bundle ofgrain and underneath the circular part of the band. As soon as this isaccomplished the sleeve F is again moved upward and the casing A, withits contents, is swung into an inclined position, as previouslydescribed, and then the position of the holders D2 and D2 is againchanged to bring a filled holder under the twisting and knottingdevices, while the holder containing the bound sheaf opens its arm topermit of the moving the bound sheaf before it reaches its formerposition on the right-hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. l. Thenew band is then placed in the empty holder and the above-describedoperation is repeated. During this time the casing A is again swung intoa horizontal position, as previously described, so that the balls E andE2 of the twisting device E again rest on the semicircular forks D" ofthe arms D and D5 of the holder D2 or D3 under the binding mechanism E.The above-described operation is then repeated.

IOO

IIO

It is understood that the ends of the straw band are pressed in oppositedirections under the band on each side of the twisted part.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-'- l, In a self-binder, thecombination, with an intermittently-rotated arm and two semicircularholding-arms pivoted at the ends of said arm, of two circular camsconcentric with the axis of the rotary arm, the two inner pivoted armsresting on the inner cam and the two outer arms resting on the outercam, substantially as set forth.

2. In a self-binder, the combination, with a holder, of a shaft arrangedvertically and mounted to turn, downwardly-inclined arms projecting inopposite directions from the lower end of the said shaft, and aknottermovable vertically past said arms, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a self-binder, the combination, with a holder, of a shaft arrangedvertically and mounted to turn, and downwardly-inclined arms projectingin opposite directions from the lower end of the said shaft, ballsheldvon the outer ends of the said arms, and a knotter at opposite sidesof the shaft and movable vertically past said arms, substantially asshown and described.

4. In a self-binder, the combination, with a holder provided with armshaving semicircular ends through which pass the straw-band ends, of atwisting mechanism comprising a shaft mounted to turn, anddownwardly-inclined arms rigidly connected with and projecting from thesaid shaft and traveling at their extremities around the saidsemicircular ends, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a self-binder, the combination, with a l holder provided with armshaving semicircular ends through which pass the straw-band ends, of atwisting mechanism comprising a shaft mounted to turn,downwardly-inclined arms projecting from the said shaft and operatingover the said semicircular ends, and balls held on the outer ends of thesaid arms and adapted to travel on the said semicircular ends,substantially as shown and described.

G. In a self-binder, the combination, with the rotary'twister havinginclined arms, of

two sets of tongs, each provided with semicircular ends adapted to openand close around said arms and connected for simultaneous verticalmovement, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a self-binder, the combination, with two tail-pieces adapted topress on the ends of the straw bands, oftwo sets of tongs adapted toengage the ends of the straw bands and press the same between the bandand the grain, substantially as shown and described. j

S. In a self-binder, the combination, with the vertical shaft havinginclined arms, of tongs provided with two prongs, each having asemicircular offset of different diameter curved toward each other toclose around said arms and engage the binding material, substantially asshown and described.

9. In a self-binder, a pair of tongs provided with two prongs, eachhaving a semicircular offset of different diameter, in combination witha tail-piece held in the opening formed by the said semicircular offsetsand projecting through a slot in the larger offset, substantially asshown and described.

l0. In a self-binder, a pair of tongs provided with two prongs, eachhaving a semicircular offset of different diameter, in combination witha tail-piece held in the opening formed by the said semicircular offsetsl and projecting through a slot in the larger offset, and means,substantially as described, for moving the said tongs and tail-piecesimultaneously up and down, at the same time closing the prongs of thetongs, substantially as set forth.

ll. In a self-binder, a pair of tongs provided with two prongs, eachhaving a semicircular offsetof different diameter, in combination with atail-piece held in the opening formed by the said semicircular osets andproj ecting through a slot in the larger offset, and fixed curvedguideways engaged by the upper ends of the said prongs, substantially asshown `and described.

l2. In a self-binder, a pair of-tongs provided with two prongs, eachhaving a semicircular offset of different diameter, in combination witha tail-piece held in the opening formed by the said semicircular offsetsand projecting through a slot in the larger offset, fixed curvedguideways engaged by the upper ends of the said prongs, and a sleevehaving a reciprocating motion and carrying the pivots of the said tongs,substantially as shown and described.

13. In a self-binder, the combination, with two parallel stationarybrackets, each having on its inner face a pair of vertically-extendingguideways curved outwardly and downwardly at their lower ends, of avertically-reciprocating sleeve between said brackets, two pairs oftongs pivoted'between their ends to opposite sides of said sleeve andprovided at vtheir upper ends with projections entering said ways, thelower ends of each pair of tongs provided with prongs, substantially assetforth.

I4. In a self-binder, the combination, with two parallel stationarybrackets, each having on its inner face a pair of vertically-extendingguideways curved outwardly and downwardly at their lower ends, and astraight guideway between each pair, of a verticallyreciprocating sleevehaving trunnions guided in said straight guideways, a pair of tongspivoted on each of` said trunnions and having projections at their upperends engaging said curved guideways, and curved prongs at their lowerends, substantially as set forth.

l5. In a self-binder, the combination, with IOO IIO

the two parallel brackets, each having two verticallyextending guidewayson its inner face curved downwardly and outwardly at their lower ends,and a vertically-reciprocating sleeve between the brackets, having twopairs of tongs pivoted to opposite sides and having projections at theupper ends of their two members engaging said guideways, and curvedprongs at their lower ends, of an intermittently-rotated shaft extendingdown through the sleeve and provided with twisting-arms at its lower endto operate in conjunction with the said prongs, substantially as setforth.

lf. In a self-binder, the combination, with two sets of fixed curvedguideways, of a sleeve having an intermittent reciprocating motionbetween the said guideways, trunnions formed on the said sleeve, sets oftongs pivoted on the said trunnions and guided by the said gnideways toalternately open and close the said tongs, and semicircular offsets ofdifferent diameter formed on the prongs of the said tongs and moving inopposite directions, substantially as shown and described.

17. In a self-binder, the combination, with two sets of fixed curvedguideways, of a sleeve having an intermittent reciprocating motionbetween the said guideways, trunnions formed on the said sleeve, sets oftongs pivoted on the said trunnions and guided bythe said guideways toalternately open and close the said tongs, and semicircular offsets ofdifferent diameter formed on the prongs of the said tongs and moving inopposite directions, and a tail-piece secured on each trunnion andprojecting through the opening of the tongs and through a slot in thelarger offset, substantially as shown and described.

1S. In a self-binder, the combination, with a holder adapted to receivethe straw band and grain, of a master-wheel above said holder, a casingmounted to swing vertically on the axis of said wheel, a band-twistingdevice, and a knotting device held on the said casing and operated fromsaid master wheel, substantially as shown and described.

19. In a self-binder, the combination, with a verticalcontinuonsly-rotated shaft, an arm having an intermittent rotarymovement about said shaft and provided with holders, and a drive-shaftgeared to said shaft and arm of a master-wheel mounted above said armand geared to said vertical shaft, avertically intermittently swingingcasing mounted on the axis of said master-wheel, and the twist ing andknot-forming mechanism carried by said casing toward and from theholders and operated from the master-wheel, substantially as set forth.

30. In a self-binder, the combination, with a wheel provided with scgmen tal gears placed diametricallyopposite each other,of a casing orframe mounted to swing vertically on the axisofsaid wheel,atwistingdevdce, comprising a shaft carried by said casing and turnedintermittently by the said gear-whecls, and downwardly-inclined armsheld on the said shaft, substantially as shown and described.

2l. In a self-binder, the combination, with a wheel provided withsegmental gears placed diametrically opposite each other,of a casing orframe mounted to swing vertically on the axis of said wheeha twistingdevice comprising a shaft carried by said casing and turnedintermittently by the said gear-wheels, downwardly-inclined arms held onthe said shaft, balls held on the outer ends of the said arms, and theholder having semicireular upper ends on which the balls travel,substantially as shown and described.

2i. In a self-binder, the combination, with a vertical sleeve supportingthe knotting device, of a transversely-extending incline engaging thesaid sleeve to raise and lower it and having an intermittent forward andbackward motion, substantially as shown and described.

23. In a self-binder, the combination, with a vertically-reciprocatingsleeve supporting the knotting device, of a horizontal incline engagingthe said sleeve and having an intermittent forward and backward motion,and a rack and pinion, substantially as described, for imparting anintermittent forward and backward motion to the said incline to raiseand lower the sleeve, as set forth.

2i. In a self-binder, the combination, with a sleeve supporting theknotting device, of an incline engaging the said sleeve and having anintermittent'. forward and backward motion, means, substantially asdescribed, for imparting an intermittentforward and backward motion tothe said incline, and a locking device for locking the said incline inplace, as set forth.

25. In a self-binder, the combination, with a shaft carrying a wheel,ofa casing mounted to turn on the said shaft, two gear-wheels mounted inthe casing adapted to be turned alternately and in opposite directionsfrom the said Wheel, and a fixed segmental rack secured tothe frame andengaged by the said two gear-wheels to raise and lower said casing,substantially as shown and described.

2G. In a self-binder, the combination, with a shaft and a wheel held onthe said shaft and provided with segmental gears and wedgeshaped blocks,of a casing mounted to turn on said shaft, parallel gear-wheels mountedin the casing, the pinion R3, mounted in the casing to slide and toturn, and adapted to engage either or both of said parallel gear-wheelsand to be engaged by the said segmental gears and by the said blocks,and a stationary rack on the frame of the machine engaged by said twowheels, whereby the casing maybe raised, lowered, and locked,substantially as shown and described.

il?. In a self-binder, the combination, with a shaft and a master-wheelheld on the said shaft and provided with segmental gears andwedge-shaped blocks, of the casing mounted IOO IIO

to turn on said shaft, the pinion R3, mounted in said casing to slideand to turn and adapted to be engaged by the said segmental gearwheelsand by the said blocks, t-he gear-wheel R, held on the said gear-wheelR3, two gearwheels Q2 and Q, adapted to be engaged simultaneously oralternately by the said pinion R, the gear-wheel Q3, meshing into thegear-wheel Q6, the iXed rack into which the gears Q2 Q3 mesh, and theband-tying mechanism carried by the casing and operated from themasterwheel, substantially as shown and described.

28. In a self-binder, lthe combination, with a shaft and a wheel held onthe said shaft and provided with segmental gears and wedgeshaped blocks,of the pinion R3, mounted to slide and to turn and adapted to be engagedby the said segmental gear-wheels and by the said blocks, the gear-wheelR, held on the said gear-wheel R3, two gear-wheels Q2 and Q6, adapted tobe engaged simultaneously or alternately by the said pinion R, anadditional gear-wheel Q3 in mesh with the said gearwheel Q, and thc Xedrack Q in mesh with the gear-wheels Q2 and Q3, substantially as shownand described.

29. In a self-binder, the combination, with a gear-wheel havingl anintermittent rotary motion, of an elongated frame provided on oppositesides with rack-teeth adapted to be engaged alternately by the saidgear-wheel, levers pivotally connected with the said elongated frame,and pins projecting from the said levers and adapted to be engaged bythe said gear-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

30. In a self-binder, the combination, with a gear-wheel having anintermittent rotary motion, of an elongated frame provided on oppositesides with rack-teeth adapted to be engaged alternately by the saidgear-wheel, levers pivotally connected with the said elongated frame,pins projecting from the said each other and mounted to slide yand carrythe pivots for the said levers, substantially as shown and described. y

3l. In a self-binder, the combination, with a gear-wheel having anintermittent rotary motion, of an elongated frame provided on oppositesides with rack-teeth adapted to be engaged alternately by the saidgear-wheel, levers pivotally connected with the said elongated frame,pins projecting from the said levers and adapted to be engaged by thesaid gear-wheel, curved arms connected with each other and mounted toslide and carry the pivots for the said levers, and a frame mounted toslide forward and backward and supporting the said curved arms,substantially as shown and described.

32. The combination, with the verticallyreciprocating knotter-sleeve, ofthe incline engaging said sleeve for raising and lowering it, thereciprocating frame connected with said incline, a rack-frame withinsaid first-named frame, having upper and lower racks, oonnected curvedarms between the two frames at their ends, levers pivotally connectedwith the ends of the rack-frame and with said curved arms, pinsprojecting from said levers, and the gear-wheels within the rack-frameto alternately engage said pins, and upper and lower racks,substantially as set forth.

33. The combination, with the twister-shaft, the reciprocatingknotter-sleeve thereon, and the master-wheel having opposite gears forrotating said shaft, of the incline engaging said sleeve, a locking-pawltherefor operated by the master-wheel, and a reciprocating frameconnected with said incline, provided with an automatically? operatedreversing mechanism 4and operated from said masterwheel, substantiallyas set forth.

HERMAN A. J. RIECKERT.

Vtnesses:

THEO. G. HosTnR, C. SEDGWICK.

